For Pennsylvania specifically, you'll want to check the PA Department of Revenue's employer database as well. The PA Department of Labor & Industry maintains employment records, but for state income tax withholding ID numbers, the Department of Revenue is your best bet. You can also try calling PA's taxpayer service line at 717-787-8201. During tax season they're usually pretty good about helping with these employer ID lookups, especially when you explain it's due to a corporate spin-off situation. One more tip - if your company was publicly traded, you might find the state tax ID information in their SEC filings or annual reports from around the time of the spin-off. These documents sometimes contain subsidiary tax information that includes state employer ID numbers. The good news is PA is generally pretty efficient with processing returns that have "APPLIED FOR" in the state EIN field, so you have a solid backup plan if the search doesn't pan out.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year during a company merger! Here's what worked for me: First, definitely try the PA Department of Revenue route that @GalacticGuru mentioned - their employer lookup system is actually pretty user-friendly once you know where to look. I was able to find my former employer's state withholding account number there when I couldn't get it anywhere else. Another thing that helped me was checking with my new employer's HR department. Since you mentioned this was a spin-off, your new company's HR might have records or contacts from the transition that could help you track down the missing information. They often maintain documentation about the corporate restructuring that includes tax ID transfers. If you're still stuck, I'd also suggest checking your 2023 state tax return if you filed one - sometimes the state EIN appears on previous returns even if you don't remember it, especially if you worked for the same company before the spin-off. The deadline pressure is real, but you've got several good options here. Don't stress too much - the "APPLIED FOR" route really is accepted practice for these corporate transition situations, and PA handles them routinely during tax season.

I'm currently dealing with a similar review situation and wanted to share what I've learned from working with a tax professional. The verification process can be tricky because the IRS uses different systems that don't always sync up in real-time. **Key verification steps I recommend:** 1. **Call the IRS directly** using the number from irs.gov (not the letter) - this is the most reliable way to confirm legitimacy 2. **Check your online transcript** for Transaction Code 420 or other examination codes 3. **Verify letter details** - legitimate notices will have your correct SSN, tax year, and a proper notice number **Important timing note:** The 30-day response window is typically calendar days from the letter date, not business days. Don't wait to start gathering documents. **For your dependents' information:** Since you mentioned coordinating dependent info, make sure you have birth certificates, Social Security cards, school records, and any custody documentation readily available. These are commonly requested during family-related reviews. **Typical timeframes:** From my experience and research, most correspondence exams take 3-6 months, but responding quickly and completely can significantly reduce this timeline. The key is staying organized and responding promptly. Most reviews are routine data matching issues that resolve without additional taxes owed. Keep detailed records of all communications and send everything via certified mail with tracking. Don't let the uncertainty stress you out too much - the process is designed to be manageable if you follow the proper steps!

As someone who's helped family members through IRS reviews, I want to emphasize a few practical points that might save you time and stress: **Immediate action items:** - Take photos of the original letter before handling it extensively - ink can smudge and you want a clear record - Create a dedicated folder (physical and digital) for all review-related documents - Set up a simple spreadsheet to track dates, actions taken, and follow-up deadlines **Verification red flags to watch for:** - Letters asking for immediate payment over the phone - Requests for gift cards or wire transfers - Threats of immediate arrest or legal action - Poor grammar or spelling in official correspondence **Timeline management:** Based on recent experiences in my network, if you respond within the first 10 days with comprehensive documentation, you're likely looking at 45-75 days total resolution time. Waiting until day 25-30 to respond often extends the process to 4+ months. **For dependent-related reviews specifically:** Since you mentioned coordinating dependents' information, gather Form 8332 (Release of Claim to Exemption) if applicable, plus any daycare receipts, medical records, or educational expenses. The IRS often cross-references dependent claims across multiple returns, so having complete documentation upfront prevents additional requests. The key is treating this as a routine administrative process rather than a crisis. Most reviews are triggered by automated data matching and resolve favorably with proper documentation. Stay methodical and you'll get through this smoothly!

Wait, no one's mentioned the tax trap with refinancing! If you took cash out and didn't use that money for rental property improvements, that portion of interest isn't deductible as a rental expense! Say you owed $150k, refinanced for $200k, and used that extra $50k for personal expenses - the interest on 75% of your loan is rental expense but 25% is personal. Easy to mess this up.

Great question about refinancing costs! I went through this exact situation last year and it's definitely confusing at first. From my research and experience, you're on the right track. The $3,100 in loan origination fees and points should be amortized over the life of your new loan - so if it's a 30-year loan, you'd deduct about $103 per year ($3,100 ÷ 30 years). The remaining $4,100 in closing costs (attorney fees, title search, recording fees, etc.) can typically be deducted as ordinary rental expenses in 2024. Just make sure to review your closing statement line by line since some fees might have specific rules. One tip: if you refinanced mid-year, remember that you can only deduct the portion of the amortized costs that corresponds to the months the loan was active in 2024. So if you closed in July, you'd only deduct 6/12 of that annual $103 amount for 2024. The fact that your tax software is handling the origination fees and points correctly is a good sign - it sounds like you're set up properly!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - client formed an S-Corp for real estate without consulting me first, and now we're trying to clean up the mess. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact on any existing loans or mortgages on the property. When we convert from S-Corp to LLC status, some lenders consider this a change in ownership that could trigger a "due on sale" clause, even though it's the same beneficial owner. I've had one client where the bank demanded immediate payoff of a commercial mortgage during an entity conversion, which created a huge cash flow problem. Has anyone here dealt with lender issues during S-Corp to LLC conversions? I'm wondering if there's a way to structure the conversion to minimize the risk of triggering these clauses, or if we should get written consent from lenders before proceeding with the entity change. Also, for those who've successfully completed these conversions - did you find it helpful to get a formal legal opinion letter documenting that the conversion was done properly? I'm thinking this might be useful protection if the IRS ever questions the transaction down the road.

This has been such a valuable thread to follow! I'm dealing with a similar situation where a client set up an S-Corp for their rental property business about a year ago, and we're now realizing it's creating more problems than benefits. One aspect I wanted to add to the discussion is the timing considerations around year-end. Since we're in April, if Anastasia's client decides to proceed with the conversion, they might want to consider timing it for the end of this tax year (December 31, 2025) to create a clean break for tax reporting purposes. This would mean filing the S-Corp return for the full 2025 year, then starting fresh as an LLC for 2026. It simplifies the bookkeeping and avoids the complexity of partial-year returns that some have mentioned. Also, I noticed several people recommended getting IRS confirmation over the phone, but has anyone had success getting written confirmation of the conversion process? I've found that having something in writing from the IRS can be incredibly valuable if questions come up during future audits, especially for transactions that involve real estate and potential depreciation recapture issues. The lender communication point that Ava raised is crucial - I've seen too many people get blindsided by due-on-sale clauses during entity conversions. Always better to have those conversations upfront rather than deal with surprised lenders after the fact.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been putting off organizing my tax records, I'm realizing I need to get serious about this before tax season hits. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - what about receipts from mobile payment apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App? I use these for a lot of business expenses, especially when paying contractors or splitting costs with business partners. The transaction history shows the amount and date, but often doesn't have detailed descriptions of what was purchased. Should I be taking screenshots of these transactions and adding my own notes about what they were for? Or is the basic transaction record from the app sufficient as long as I can explain the business purpose? Also, for anyone who mentioned using receipt scanning apps - do you scan receipts immediately or do you have a system where you batch them weekly/monthly? I'm trying to figure out the most realistic approach that I'll actually stick to!

Great discussion everyone! I wanted to add something that might help with organization - I've been using a simple spreadsheet to track all my business expenses in real-time, with columns for date, vendor, amount, category, payment method, and receipt location (physical file vs digital folder). This has been a lifesaver because even if I lose a receipt, I have a record of when and where the expense occurred, which makes it much easier to request duplicate receipts from vendors if needed. Plus, during my audit preparation, I could quickly filter by category or date range to pull together related documentation. One thing I learned the hard way - if you're claiming home office deductions, take photos of your office space and keep records of when you set it up. The IRS wanted to see that my home office was used "regularly and exclusively" for business, and having photos with timestamps really helped establish that timeline. Also, for anyone worried about digital storage - I keep everything in Google Drive with a shared folder that my accountant can access. That way if something happens to me or my computer, my tax prep person can still access all the documentation. Just make sure you trust whoever you're sharing access with!